Tile machinery



July 25, 1933. 'A. c. MYERS TILE MACHINERY Filed June 30, 1930 6Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

July 25, 1933.

A. c, MYERS TILE MACHINERY Filed June 50, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR. M

A TTORNEY.

July 25, 1933.

Filed June 30, 1930 TILE MACHINERY 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 a I a I I2! u 70 wl5 8 I J a:

W INVENTOR.

Albert Elm. M m. WW4

A TTORNE Y.

A. cfMYERs TILE MACHINERY July 25, 1933.

Filed June 30, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Jul 25, 1935;

A. C, MYERS TILE MACHINERY Filed June -2' O, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IINVENTOR. Albert Clay 1Ayers. BY; E I

ATTORNEY.

July 25, 1933. A. c. MYERS 1,919,639

TILE MACHINERY Filed June 50, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I N VEN TOR.

Alberc Elm. M 21's. BY J J,

ATTORNEY.

" advancing mechanism.

Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED PATENT oFFIcs 4 ALBERT o AY MYERS, ornuns, GATJIFOBNIA, ASSIG'NOR o KnAn'rILn-oo., on nILEs, CALIFORNIA, AooRPonArIo v or" DELAWARE V TILE MACHINERY Application filed June so.1930. Serial in). 454,839."

This invention relates to improvements in tile machinery and the methodof fabricatingtile.

Among the objects of the invention are I to simplify the method ofproducing tile,

and to lower the cost of production by culling out defective .tilebeforethey reach the Another ob ect is to reduce the loss from.

breakage by subjecting the tile tothe mechanical operations before thefiring period.

Another object is .to' produce a tile me- I chanically standardized asto thickness, lat

eral dimensions and edge bevel, before glazing and firing. 3

ing, and beveling machinery that willperform its accuracy and theminimum of breakage i losses. 1

Other "obj ects as the description progresses.

In this specification I and the annexed drawings, the inventionisdisclosed in its '1 T preferred form. But it is to be understood thatitis: not limited to this form] It is also to be understood that in andby thev claims following the description itis desiredto cover theinvention in whatsoever form it may be embodied. In the six sheets ofdrawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view fromabove, .of-the general assembly of thegaging-edging and beveling machine, with the top guard plate 5'removedfrom the: gaging plate, from the line I- I upward, see Fig. 5. i

Fig. 2. is a slightly enlarged fragmentary detail'of the same,takenabove the said top guard plate, showing the tile dischargingmechamsm from the gage wheel, indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same.

hopper.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail in vertical section of the periphery ofthe gage plate mechanism. Y I V I .Fig. 6 is a side elevation detail ofthe tile A further-object is to provide gaging, edgfunctions on theunfiredtile with and advantages will appearv Fig. 4 is a verticalsection of the tile feed- V carried on the trays or placed on drapersFig. ;7 is a fragmentarydetail of tile engaging dogs ofthe advancingmechanism; Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the tile advancing andconveying mechanism and the. edging wheels, taken on the line VIII-VIII, Fig 1.

Fig. 9 is a perspective viewfrom above of a tilemanufactured-inaccordance with 1 this invention.v i i Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail inelevation ofthe geartrain drivefor the gage plate." vFig. 11 is asimilar View. of-the cam driving mechanisms "for advancing the tileonthe conveyors, f i

Fig. .12 is a. detail elevation view of a conventionaljcarding brush. vFig. '18 is a details'ectionview of the ad justable yoke bearings .ofthe tile facing wheels.v F In the production of'tile in accordance withthis invention, the properly blended and mixedclays are introduced-intoan auger or pressure press. The plastic clay. issues from the pressthrough a die, in the form ofa flat ribbon, onto, a stationary .oiledplate. This ribbon is severed by cutting wires passed transverselythrough it, cutting it into squares, or tile blanks. These still moistand plastic'blanks are pushed onto flat topped trays with cleats on theunder sideof their ends, so'that free v circulation of air isprovidedfor when the trays are'stacked one above another. Any defectiveblanks are culled out by. an inspector before the blanksreach the trays.These trays are then conveyed to the ovens for baking. They'a resubjected to a cir culating atmosphere'at abou t 150 Fahrenheit, wherethey remain until they are hard and dry. i

. 0 From the drying ovens the baked tile are" conveyed to the trimmingmachine illustrated in the drawings. The tile maybe 95 for mechanicaltransportation." They should be again inspected and defectiveseliminated before being trimmed in the machine, to

avoid processing any tile not structurally strong enough to withstandthe operation.

These baked tile X are stacked vertically in the feed hopper as shown inFig. 3.

The tile trimming machine comprises a main frame 1, preferably composedof architectural shapes andcastings properly de signed and rigidlyconstructedto hold the various mechanisms in proper relationship, seeFig. 1.

The. ,vertical shaft 2 is suitably journaled in the main frame,anddriven by the bevel gearing 3-4, see Fig. 10. The gear 4 is fixed onthe shaft 5 which is, in turn, driven by the bevel pinion 6, enmeshedwith the gear 7 fixed on the shaft 8 of the spur gear the driving thanthe 9. This gear engages the pinion 10 on the shaft 11 of the gear 12'.This gear engages pinion 13 o'nthe shaft 14 of a prime mover or lineshaft. This train comprises a reduction ear for rotating the vertica'lshaft 2 at suitable speed, about R. P.

M., the whole being suitably journaledin the main frame.

The gage plate 15 is fixed on the shaft 2, see Figs. 2, 4, 5. This plateis preferably 0f hardened steel with a thickness equal to anddetermining the thickness of the tile.v This plate has the peripheralgaps 16 therein, whichare more than thewidth of the tile X, being fedthereto, see Fig. 4. As the 4 gaps 16 pass beneath the vertical stackof.

blanks, each gap slides one tile from beneath the stack and carries itforward between the top andbottom shroudplates 17, 18, see Each blanktile X is slightly thicker gage of the plate 15. Unfired or merely bakedtile cannot withstand the impactof abrasive wheels or metallic cuttingtools. They fracture or disintegrate, under the chattering operation of40" every form of abrasive means available.

One of the salient features of this invention is the scratch brushsurfaces of the trimming mechanisms. I have discovered that theresilientscratching operation of the conventional carding brushes asused in the textile industry are ideal for the trimming operation, seeFigs. 2, 3, 8, 12.

These cards consist ofa stiff fabric backing 19, through which shorthooks of spring steel wire protrude to form a pile of crimped brush-likewire ends. These wires are crimped or bent toward the direction oftravel where possible, especially in the edging. operation, see Fig. 8.

In Fig. 2 the cards are cut into segments 2020 and fixed to the faces ofthe wheels 21-22, respectively, fixedon the vertical shafts 2526, drivenat relatively high speeds, about 1000 R. P. M.

These shafts arepreferably belt driven in opposite directions, from theshaft 14, or an independent: source. The independent source is preferredbecause of the reverse directions of the shafts and their transverseaxial relation to and increased speed ratio,

slmilarly mounted on the to the shaft- 14. The respective drive beltsengage the pulleys such as 27 on each shaft 2526, see Figs. 1, 2, 3.

The upper and lower wheels 21-23, and. the corresponding wheel 22- andits mate arc main frame by ad justable means, see Fig. 3. Since theirmounting and operation are the same, only one mounting will bedescribed.

The shafts are 2929 in the yokes 30. These yokes are verticallyadjustable in the guides 31 fixed to the main frame. The guides aredovetailed in the yokes to prevent displacement. The guide has a lug 33extending through a slot in the yoke 30. The spindle 34 is swiveled inthis lug and threaded in the lug 35 on the guide, so that the yoke maybe raised and lowered by turning the handle 36 on the spindle and thedesired adjustment locked by the bolt 32.

The wheel 22 and its mate are similar to the wheels 21-23 and aresimilarly mounted in adjustable yokes, adjustably fixed in guides fixedto the main frame. In this manner both sets ofwheels 21 and itsmate 23,and 22 and its mate, are vertically adjustable with respect to theopposite sides of the plate 15. I

The top wheels revolve in opposite directions to the nether wheels ineach set and are similarly driven by belts engaging the pulleys suchas39.

It is the function of these opposed carded wheels to scratch off andremove the excess thickness of baked tile extending laterally beyond thefaces of the plate 15, see Fig. 3. The thickness of the hard plate 15determines the thickness of the tile passing between the card wheels.The reverse rotation of these wheels described, counteracts the thrustof the wheels against the tile which is carried between the wheels bythe rotation of the plate 15. The resilient scratching action of thecard surfaces 20 has no tendencyto fracture the baked tile even though aconsiderable thickness of material is removed over. thefull top andbottom areas of the tile.

From the last wheels 2123 the tiles X are carried around by the plate 15between the plates 1718 and the peripheral guard 4.0, which lattercounteracts the centrifugal force of the plate 15 acting on the tiles X.This guard is fixed to the plates 17-18 by the 'bolts 41 at properintervals.

After being gaged to thickness, the blanks X drop from the gaps 16 ontothe conveyor rails 4242, between the vertical guards 4343, both of whichare supported on the main frame. a

The conveyor truck 44, see Figs. 6-7, has the flanged rollers 4545thereon supported on the tracks .46-46, mounted upon the main frame 1.These rollers support the journaled in bearings vent lateral-play:

weight of thetruck and the flanges pre- 48. These dogs are fulcrumed onthe pivots 48 sothat they counterbalance and stop against'the pins 48 tohold thev heads .49

normally above'rthe level of the rails 42,

to engage. behind the tiles. X X X as they are moved forward by thecross head 47 as .they dropzfrom thegage plate. I

The. truck-44. is moved forwardgand back bythe link50,-pivotedythereto'at 51, and at 52 to the lever 53, that-is in turnpivoted at 5.4 to the base'of the main frame. 55 on the lever has anantifriction roller engaging in the groove 56 on the cam wheel 57, seeFig. 6@ 1 This. cam is fixed-on the endof the shaft 58,;which is drivenby the bevel pinion 59 fixed on the other endof the shaft-58, see Fig.11. This pinion is enmeshed with the bevel gear 60-on the-transverseshaft 61, driven by thespur gear 62 fixed. thereon.- The driving pinion63 is fixed on .the primary shaft 14 and drives the gear 62insynchronism with the plate 15, both derivingstheirimpulses from theshaft14 with proper interposed gear ratios to cause the truck to move backand forth synchronously with the gaps 16 to remove the'tile asthey droptherefronm'w'lhe various intermediate shafts.58-6l are properlyjourna'led in the main framel.

The dogs 47 and 47 are tipped to the horizontal position in passingunder the tiles X X see Fig. 7,. on the backward movement of the truck44. 'As thecross head 47 engages behind the tileX for the forwardmovement, the pair of dogs 47 -engagebe-- hind the tile X and push itinto the position- X An inspector should be stationed atthe truck 44 toremoveany tiles which show defects.- From the position X, the tiles arepushedforward bythe dogs-47' off the ends of the rails 42 from whencethey drop.

onto a similar set ofrails 64, seeFig; 1.

In passing from the position X to X the tile blank is pushed between theedging card wheels 6566, see Figs. 1-8. These.

Wheels have peripheral bands of carding 67-68 fixed thereon. The cardmaterial. is the same'as that described on the wheelsat 20 I Thesewheels are mounted on-their respec-: tive shafts 69-70 mounted insuitable bear ings on the adjustable.bed-plates 71' 72,

guided on the main frame and. laterally adjustable by the threadedspindles 27 3'7 4 engaging the main frame and swiveled in theirrespectivebed plates. Theseshafts have-the pulleys 7 5-7 6fixedthereonrespectively, anddriven by belts engaging an overhead line shaft,not shown, or they m ay be individually motored. These cardv wheels Thestud.

polygonal shapes.

scratch' foff the edges67" and 68' of the tile blank. These wheelsengage these edges at their diameters for. z..perpendicular'edges or YFig. .8. .'lhe'y"zformv theibeveliand also de-.

termine the .width of the baked tile. The opposite edges are-.similarlytreated by a similar meansui-n connection with'the rails .64,seezF1g.,1.

The Shaft 61 has a cam 77, 1ike57, ear on: "the end thereof. The bevelgearing 5960"beingfofthe-same pitch diameters,, l

drive .theshafts58-6l at the same speed from the same source, theshaft'14. It is therefore possible by timing the cams 57- 67.

toy-synchronize theop'erationpf the levers as 53'78, and theircoinbinative assemblies, to movethe trucks 4479 in unison. These trucks44+? 9 are similar as to general constructionandfunction, exceptthatonly the? cross: head is :required. This cross head 80.,engages thebaked tile X and pushes it between the'card-wheels 81-82, which-completethe other width and beveling of the,

TThe wheels 81-82 are respectively mount;

ed-on the shafts 83.84,i suitably 'journaled on the adjustable bedplates 85-86 guided on the main frame and laterally adjustable by thethreaded spindles 87-8 8 engaging the main frame and swiveled intheirrespe'ctive bed plates. The pulleys 89-90 are fixedfon the shafts83.-84 and driven by belts to a .lineshaft or as-describedin connectionwiththe similar'wheels'67'68.-

After passing between thewheels 81-82. the tiles are advanced along therails 64-:64 by each succeeding tile pushing. the preced-v ing oneforward in solidformation, see Fig. 1. Here they shouldbeagain inspectedand culled. Fromthe rails 64-,64 they are thus pushed onto a draper, notshown, still in solid formation, whereon they are sprayed 'with theliquid glazing materiah'preparatorv tofiring in they conventionalmanner.

If oblongtile are desired, either set of whels-67.-.68 .or}.8l.=82 maybe'adjusted to meet the narrower .or wider tile shape. These edgingwheels and the conveyor. and feed means such as 44and .79 and theconveyors 42 42 and64-64 may be duplicated and, arranged at properangles to each other to edge octagonal, hexagonal andother Byfabricating tile by the method'and machinery of this invention, a fully"standard- 7 izedproduct results. The tiles are of-. uniform thicknessand dimensions, and squared or beveled on the edges if desired. i

Scratching the front, b. k and edge surfaces, as described, creates anideal surface for-adhesion to the cement base in which the oring effectwith an impervious face sur-' face and a pervious'back, with thenecessary suction'for the plastic base. i

The beveled edges-greatly facilitatesetting of the tile, since they canbe set edge-to-edge in contact, the bevels automatically forming thepointing spaces for the intervening grout. The scratched edgesalso haveastrong suction aflinity for the grout, as previously explained. Suchtiles will not dropout of Wall and ceiling installations. Thepractice'of this invention de parts from the practice of grinding andtooling ceramic or fired tile.

In the present invention all mechanical operations are performed on thebaked tile beforeit is glazed, decorated or fired.

'Having thus described this invention what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Pat out is:

1. A tile machine including a pair of intel-spaced abrasive wheels; anda gage plate movable between said Wheels and having openingstherethrough adapted to carry tile.

2. A tile machine including a pair of interspaced abrasive brushes; agage plate movable between said brushes and having openingstherethrou'gh adapted to carry tile.

3. A tile machine including a pair of interspaced shroud plates; a pairof interspaced abrasive brushes having their faces alined withsaid'shroud. plates; and means for passing tile between said plates andbrushes. .7 v

4. A tile machine including a pair of in terspaced rotary abrasivebrushes; a rotary gage wheel movable-between said brushes and havingopenings'therethrough adapted to carry tile; and means for feeding tileinto :and out of 'said openings.

A tile machine including apairof interspaced shroud platesfa gage platemov able between said plates and having openings th'erethroughadaptednto carry tile; abrasive meansbearing against the oppositesidesof said plate.

6. A tile machine including a pair of interspaced shroud plates; a gageplate movable betweensaid shroud plates and having tile carryingopenings therethrough; resilient abrasive means bearing against the faceof said gage plate; means for feeding tile into said openings;interspaced tile edge abrading means; and means for carrying'the tilebetween said edge abrading means from said openings.

7. A tile machine including a pair of interspaced shroud plates;"arotary gage plate movable between said shroud plates the- Q gage andhaving tile carrying openings there gage plate apair of on oppositesides gage plate; means to feed tile into the openings in said gageplate; means to eject the tile from said openings after the tile havebeen passed between said scratch brushes; a conveyor to receive the tilewhen ejected from said gage plate; a pair of scratchbrushes mounted oneach side of said conveyor and adapted to contact the edges of the tilewhen moved by the conveyor.

9. A tile machine including a resilient abrasive means to trim the topand bottom of a tile; means to move said tile through saidabrasivemeans; a conveyor to receive the trimmed tile; resilientabrasive brushes mounted on each side of said conveyor and angularlydisposed to the plane of the tile; means to move the tile along saidconveyor between said brushes, thereby trimming the sides of said tile;a second conveyor disposed at rightangles to the first conveyor andadapted to receive the tile from the first conveyor; resilient abrasivebrushes on each side of the second conveyor and angularly disposed tothe plane of the tile; and means to pass the tile between said brushes,there by trimming the ends of the tile.

10. A tile machine including a pair of interspaced driven wheels mountedon par allel shafts, abrasive brushes on the'periphcries of said wheels,a conveyor adapted to feed tile between said brushes below the plane ofthe axis of said wheels to trim and bevel the ends of said tile.

11. A tile machine including a rotatable gage plate having openingstherethrough; interspaced shroud plates on each side of said gage plate;means to feed tile into said openings in said gage plate; a pair ofadjustably mounted resilient abrasive wheels bearing onsaid gage plateand the tile in the openings in said gage plate; and means to rotatesaid abrasive wheels in opposite directions.

12. A tile machine-including a rotatable plate having openingstherethrough adapted to carry tile; interspaced shroud plates on eachside of said gage plate; a peripheral guard fixed to said shroud, andadapted to arrest centrifugal movement of the tiles; and abrasivebrushes adjacent said gage plate and adapted to trim the top and bottomof said tile. I I r 13. A tile machine including a conveyor,

onto said rails, a reciprocating truck between and beneath said rails,depressible dogs mounted on said truck and adapted to engage andintermittently advance said tile a pair of interspaced driven Wheelsmounted on opposite sides of said conveyor;

abrasive brushes on the peripheries ofsaid Wheels; a second pair ofconveyor rails arranged at right angles to the end of and adapted toreceive tile from the first conveyor, a second truck between the secondpair of conveyor rails and timed insynchronism wlth the first truck,tile 'engaglng means of said second truck, and a pair of interspaceddriven Wheels having abrasive brushes on their peripheries mounted onoppositesides of said second pair of conveyor rails.

r I so" ALBERT CLAY MYERS.

